The Presbytery

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXIV, Issue 3342, 26 November 1934, Page 6

The Presbytery

MEETING AT ALEXANDRA. The Presbytery of Central Otago met in the Jubilee Hall, Alexandra, oh Thursday, November 1, and was duly constituted by the Moderator, Rev. W. J. Be vis. There were present seven Ministers, and five Elders. Apologies for nonattendance were received from Revs. I. Borric, W. Humble and Chisholm, Minutes of the previous meetings were read and sustained. Correspondence was received from Bftnfurly, and Rev. A. Don, Alex Salmend, the Clerk of Synod, Rev, P, Keene, Oturchua, the Superintendent of Home Missions, Waipiata, and the General Treasurer of the Church, and was dealt with. Notice was received by the Clerk that the Rev. J. S. Murray had been duly inducted into the charge of Kelburn, Wellington, on October 4. Matters from the Public Questions Committee were before the Presbytery, namely (1) The limitation and opportunity for free speech. After full discussion it was agreed that delegates to the General Assembly support any motion brought forward by the Assembly in which the right of free speech is safeguarded, (2) Gambling and the Gaming Bill. The Presbytery decided to support most Heartily any recommendations brought forward by the Assembly that would help to lessen the evils of gambling. The report of the Labour Day Bible Class Rally was presented by the Moderator and received. Banners were won by the following Parishes; Senior, Cromwell; Junior, Alexandra.

The Clerk reminded Ministers that now commissions for Presbytery Elders would be needed from each Parish after the close of the General Assembly. The matter of publishing the Rev. A. Don’s book, “The History of the Presbyterian Church in Central Otago,” was discussed at great length, and it was finally decided to go ahead and publish i!j. I Every Parish avus urged to do its best to secure orders for the book, Rev. A. Don was heartily thanked for the splendid work he had done in writing up the history.

Next day (Friday), the gad news wag received that Mr Don had suddenly passed away while on the train en route to Dunein, His death may delay the publishing of the book, but it is hoped that it will be published at the time intended, namely, Easter, Intimation was made by the Clerk that the Presbytery would meet again the first Thursday in March. The Court was closed by the Moderator pronouncing the Benediction.